Giti Tire breaks ground in North America – Giti Tire executives were joined today by South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley along with state and county officials in a groundbreaking ceremony for the company’s new facility in Chester County.
The first North America plant for Giti Tire will produce passenger and light truck tires for the replacement and original equipment markets. It is expected to be operational in 2017. The plant is expected to generate 1,700 new jobs over the next 10 years.
Speaking at the event were: Governor Haley; Dr. Enki Tan, Executive Chairman of Giti Tire Group; R. Carlisle Roddey, Chester County Supervisor and Chairman of the Chester County Council; and Brian Singleton, Chairman of the Chester Development Association. Following the remarks, tire company executives, government officials and community leaders wielded ceremonial shovels to break ground for the highly anticipated tire manufacturing facility.
During his remarks, Dr. Tan was joined on stage by Dr. Agnes Slayman, superintendent of the Chester County School District, and several local schoolchildren in announcing the “Giti Tire Math and Science Award.” Teams for each school will be given a specific problem to solve and will then present a solution to the problem in the annual competition, which begins in fall 2015. The winning teams (one from elementary, middle and high schools) will receive a trophy and an award.
The Chester County School District serves more than 5,300 students across the county in three high schools, three middle schools, and five elementary schools, as well as through its career center, alternative education and adult education programs.
“The students of the Chester County School District have unique talents and abilities that, when nurtured, will lead graduates to bright futures and diverse careers,” Dr. Tan said. “We are looking forward to working with the school district to help ‘Guide and Inspire Tomorrow’s Innovators’ in the science, math and engineering fields.”
Work has started on the site, located between S.C. Highway 9 and Old Richburg Road. The new plant will be on the Carolinas I-77 Mega Site and will combine manufacturing and distribution activities.
Giti Tire Group, headquartered in Singapore, has been in the tire business since 1951. Giti Tire operates 8 manufacturing plants and produces a broad range of tire products, serving major original equipment vehicle manufacturers, auto-service outlets, tire dealers and consumers in more than 130 countries worldwide.
GITI Tire (USA) Ltd., based in Rancho Cucamonga, California, is the sales, marketing, and distribution company for North America. It markets and sells a family of brands: GT Radial, Primewell, and Dextero tires for high performance vehicles, passenger, SUV, light truck, and medium trucks through national retailers, independent retailers and distributors across the United States and Canada.